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September 17, 2004 — After a Royal Danish Air Force doctor seared his hand on a hot halogen light bulb that then burned out, the Danish Air Material Command, the
procurement arm of the Danish air force, conducted a search-and-rescue operation
for a cooler and more reliable lamp to illuminate the medical instruments' table
onboard their medevac helicopters. Expediting their quest was their experience
with LED-sourced lighting and that they knew LEDtronics Inc. could supply it.
Previously, LEDtronics had solved a similar lighting problem on
the medevac helicopters. A halogen bulb in the swing-arm task light above the
examination table made the light fixture too hot for medical personnel to
reposition it when necessary. The solution: A cool-operating, direct
incandescent replacement LED light bulb. John Henckel, the LEDtronics
representative for Northern Europe, recommended a sixty-six 5mm LED PAR20 (part
number PAR20-66-2IW-12VDC) bulb because it's bright and easy to install. The
bulb's base conforms to the standard European E27 socket thereby simplifying
swapping out the halogen bulb. Additionally, the LED PAR20 produces a brilliant
white light, making it easy for medical personnel to see, assess and treat a
patient's injuries. The Danish Air Material Command evaluated bulbs with white
LEDs of different color temperature: (1) incandescent white (4500K) and (2) cool
white (8000K). After testing each, they selected the incandescent white due to
its superior color rendering ability that expedited differentiating between
tissue, blood and other bodily fluids. While all these attributes contributed to
the air material command's purchase decision, what clinched it was how the LED
PAR20 always remained cool no matter how long it remained on.
Once again, the procurement
office looked to LEDtronics for an alternative to the halogen lamp at the
instruments table. Henckel had just the
thing: the LEDtronics LED Light Strip (p/n STP527-21W). At a half-inch high,
this strip fits the existing cylindrical fixture and gives off plenty of light.
It features 105 narrow-beamed incandescent-white 5mm domed LEDs mounted on a
27"L x 0.75"W printed circuit board. The strip draws only 0.525A while
generating 2000mcd of focused light. The directional light from LED Light Strips
brightly illuminates the targeted area for optimal viewing without compromising
the night vision of the rest of the helicopter's crew or, most importantly,
making the light fixture hot.
In addition to not producing heat, LEDs have other advantages
over halogen bulbs that make them well suited for strenuous applications like
those onboard helicopters. While halogen bulbs can be broken by vibrations and
jolts, LED lamps integrate solid-state circuitry and sturdy epoxy lenses that
make them practically unbreakable. The solid-state circuitry enables the LED
bulbs to be cycled on and off without worry of sudden burnout. LEDs' robust
construction enables them to operate for as long as 100,000 hours. Also, unlike
when the filament breaks in a halogen bulb, an LED cluster lamp continues to
provide light even if one or more individual emitters fail.
Success in search-and-rescue operations most often depends on
time. The faster medical attention is administered, the greater are the odds of
survival. When every wasted moment puts lives at risk, medical personnel can ill
afford distractions like blistering-hot light fixtures or burned out bulbs.
Pleased with the performance of the LED PAR20 bulbs and LED Light Strips, the
Danish Air Material Command purchased LED lamps to retrofit all of their new
helicopters.
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LEDtronics Inc.—located in Torrance, CA—manufactures
an array of LED products ranging from discrete surface mount indicators to
direct incandescent replacement LED lamps and bulbs for applications such as
transportation, panel indication and decorative lighting. LEDs come in visible
(400-700 nanometers), infrared (830-940 nanometers) and ultraviolet (370-410
nanometers) wavelengths. For additional information, contact LEDtronics toll
free at 1-800-579-4875 or by click
here to email us. Visit our
website at www.LEDtronics.com.
John Henckel is the LEDtronics Representative for
Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, Germany and Austria.
Headquartered in southern Denmark, Henckel provides application assistance and
other value-added customer services. He may be contacted through the following:
Phone +45 7022 7333 and by email at jh@LEDtronics.dk
Westland Helicopters Limited (WHL) is the UK arm of the
joint venture company AgustaWestland and is the only UK helicopter design
authority, manufacturer and systems integrator. Over 1,000 Westland helicopters
are in service in 19 countries, and between them they have achieved over six
million flying hours. With more than 80 years aviation experience, Westland is
renowned throughout the world as a manufacturer of the most technically
advanced, versatile and reliable helicopters. Westland may be contacted by phone
at +44 1935 475222, by fax at +44 1935 702131 and by email at info@whl.co.uk.
Visit their website at www.whl.co.uk
Data sheet: LED Light Bulbs, Spotlight, PAR20 Style, 120VAC
Data sheet: LED Light Strip, Sunlight Visible, Narrow Beam